Dental implants are often recommended when a person
loses one or more teeth from infection, gum disease,
accident or injury. When natural teeth are removed,
the remaining teeth shift, rotate and become crooked
causing an improper bite, making it difficult to chew food
properly. Spaces and gaps can cause embarrassment,
speech difficulties, and lack of self-esteem.
Today nearly 50,000,000 people in the United States
are “edentulous” (meaning lacking teeth), and struggle
daily with a great deal of discomfort. But the solution
- implants - can be very expensive, and cost depends
on many factors, including type of implantation, the
dentist performing the procedure, the location where
it is performed, the material used and the amount of
dental insurance you have. Single implants can range
anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. The cost of full-mouth
reconstructive dental implants can range from $24,000
to $100,000.
So when two pioneers in implant dentistry sought a
more efficient and cost-effective method, they developed
MDI, the mini dental implant system, a surprisingly
affordable, FDA approved procedure available at a
fraction of the cost of traditional implants. They are
titanium screws that replace the root of a tooth. The ball
shaped head and collar design can be used for both
permanently cemented crowns or bridges, as well as
securing full or partial dentures. When used for fixed
or cemented applications the prosthesis is cemented
directly to the head of the implant. If the implant is to
be used for a removable denture then a housing with
a rubber gasket is attached to the acrylic denture and
functions like a button that snaps on and off the implant.
The denture sits snugly against the gums and is
retained securely, allowing better chewing function and
increased confidence.
Mini Dental Implants are placed in about an hour
using a microsurgical technique. Your dentist will use
a small amount of local anesthetic and make a pin-
sized puncture in the gum and jaw. The implant is then
threaded gently and carefully into the jaw, using a one-
step procedure involving minimally invasive surgery.
Because of the unique procedure, the size of the
implants, and the characteristic placement area, the
typical MDI patient can enjoy a light meal an hour or so
after having the mini implants placed. The good news is
that a denture patient who has had his or her prosthesis
stabilized with MDI can remove and replace the denture
easily after a little practice, and can then easily utilize
good dental hygiene.
According to Buffalo dentist Dr. Ben Oppenheimer MDI
therapy has been one of the most significant advances in
dentistry. Usually half the price of conventional implant
treatment, their affordability enables people to expand
treatment options, allowing them to realize their dream
of fixed bridgework instead of removable dentures.
WNY RESOURCE: Dr. Ben Oppenheimer has treated
thousands of WNY patients, and taught dentists
throughout the world how to place dental implants in
a minimally invasive manner including no cutting of
the gums or stitches. Visit http://www.DrMDI.com or call
716-418-7272.
This article was featured in WNY Healthy Living written by Annette Pinder
About Benjamin D. Oppenheimer, DDS, FICOI
- Dr. Benjamin D. Oppenheimer
- Amherst, NY, United States
- Dr. Benjamin D. Oppenheimer is a graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. There he received a Dean's letter for Academic Excellence as well as the International Congress of Oral Implantologists award. He is now one of the leading experts in the world on Mini Dental Implants and a fellow of the ICOI. He has taught hundreds of dentists to use minis and has served as a consultant to the IMTEC Corporation, the manufacturer of the MDI product as well as Dental tech laboratories, Evolution Dental, Global Dental Sciences. He currently is a Key opinion leader to 3M ESPE Dental Implants. He is also the author of a number of scientific journal articles on the subjects of dental implants, bone grafting, mini dental implants and Cone Beam CT for dentistry. As well as offering dental implants, Dr. Ben provides all aspects of patient care for adults and children in Amherst, NY a suburb of Buffalo NY. He focuses on dental implant treatment in his buffalo office. Dr. Oppenheimer has also served as a business consultant for Jenius Industries Inc. and VBS Holdings LLC. He currently is a Member of Apex dental solutions, LLC, a mini implant marketing agency.
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